Can computers improve patient care by primary health care workers in India?

Abstract

Objective. The objective was to test whether a decision support technology for non-physicians can increase health care utilization and quality. Design. Before and after measurements were taken from a systematic random sample of patients and staff at randomly assigned intervention and control facilities. Setting. The study took place at primary health facilities in rural Tamil Nadu, India. Participants. One thousand two hundred and eighty-six patients and 82 staff were interviewed. Intervention. A computer-assisted decision support technology was introduced to assist with patient screening. Main outcome measures. Outcome measures included new patient visits per month, a Global Patient Assessment of Care Index, and health worker attitude variables. Results. There was a difference of difference of 430 new patient visits per month at the intervention sites (P = 0.005), an increase from baseline of 18% at intervention sites compared with a decline of 5% at control sites. The intervention was associated with significant improvements in a Global Patient Assessment of Care Index (mean difference of difference 7.9, P

Citation

International Journal for Quality in Health Care 18 (6) pp. 437-445 [doi:10.1093/intqhc/mzl053]

Can computers improve patient care by primary health care workers in India?

Published 1 January 2006